St. Charles police: Speeding motorist crashes into tree

Published: Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014 10:58 p.m. CST

ST. CHARLES – A 24-year-old faces two felonies and numerous citations after he was clocked going 52 mph over the speed limit and then crashed into a tree in a residential area on the city’s north side, St. Charles police said.

Ryan Patrick Johansen, of the 3400 block of Dover Hill Court, St. Charles, was charged with illegal transportation of alcohol, reckless driving, improper lane use, speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and two Class 4 felony counts of aggravated fleeing a police officer – one for exceeding 21 mph over the limit and one for causing more than $300 in property damage, according to documents filed last weekend with the Kane County Circuit Clerk’s Office.

About 11 p.m. Friday, a St. Charles police officer traveling on Route 31 near Crane Road saw Johansen pass two vehicles in a no-passing zone and clocked him going 80 mph in a 45-mph zone, Deputy Chief Dave Kintz said.

When the officer turned around to follow Johansen, Kintz said, the motorist turned onto Abbeywood Drive to avoid police.

Additional squad cars reportedly responded to the scene in attempt to locate Johansen and found him on Greenwood Lane near Windsor Circle.

Johansen was clocked going 77 mph on Greenwood Lane, a 25-mph zone, Kintz said. After turning on Windsor Circle, Johansen reportedly lost control of his vehicle and hit a tree. He told officers he was not injured, Kintz said.

A document filed with the circuit clerk’s office described Johansen as having glossy and bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. He also smelled of alcohol and needed assistance walking to an officer’s squad car, according to the document.

Court documents indicate his bail was set at $20,000. Online records for the Kane County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday showed he was no longer in custody.

Johansen is expected in court at 9 a.m. Aug. 28 for a preliminary hearing.